Previews

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007

And it's not just environmental hotspots where strong grapples come into play. Players will be able to map specific moves to the right stick. They seem to be divided into root moves that are subcategorized into specific maneuvers.

For example, during the demo, the Undertaker could set up a Fireman's Carry, a suplex, a power bomb or a choke. From the Fireman's Carry position, he could either perform a Fireman's Carry, a side backbreaker, or just throw Triple H over the apron. From the power bomb, he could pull off a power bomb in different ways. With a suplex, he could carry his opponent around the ring in that position, perform squats to add to the taunt factor, or even move over to the ropes and bounce Hunter onto the top rope, gut first. Finally, in a choke position, 'Taker can set up moves such as a Batista Bomb or his own trademark Choke Slam.

It adds a field of depth that Here Comes the Pain hinted at, but lacked the depth to improve. And honestly, it's a complete and total alteration to the way that SmackDown is played. Stubborn old schoolers, we were told, will still be able to configure their controls to play in the classic style as well, although we were a tad more interested in the smoothness of the new mechanics.

While the grappling plays a major role in the tweaks to the experience, there are other aspects of SvR 07 that have gotten some serious upgrading. Five or six years ago, the idea of ladder matches was new and cool. While they've always been great additions to any wrestling game, they've grown a tad cliché after several games. SvR aims to spice up the intensity of the matches. Williams said that his biggest gripe with ladder matches has been with the button-mashing elements.

Instead of the usual "climb the ladder and button mash to get the belt," it seems to be more reminiscent of Splinter Cell's lock picking mini-game. As a player gets to the top of the ladder, he reaches for the belt (or in the case of the newly added Money in the Bank mode, the suitcase) and pushes up on the L stick to find the item's sweet spot. It comes at a cost, however, as it takes up a great deal of player stamina to undo the item and remove it from the rafters. Also adding to the tension is the fact that one player's attempt to undo the belt can be exploited by his opponent, who can get up the ladder later and continue the process. Williams made a point to emphasize that the SmackDown team wanted to create a degree of mechanics and tension around removing the object instead of merely tapping buttons as quickly as possible.

And it's not just the mechanics of getting the belt, either. Ladder matches are equipped with their own hotspot; players can sandwich an opponent against the ladder and slam it down on them repeatedly with motions on the right stick. Also, in previous games, players could place a ladder vertically on the turnbuckle and whip an opponent into it. Now, they can place it horizontally between the top and second rope to do some damage. Most importantly, however (and more indicative of the new mode), is the ability to stack up ladders. That means that players can pull off Shelton Benjamin's "holy s***"-worthy high spots off of diagonally placed ladders. That notorious Spear off the ladder that Edge pulled on Matt Hardy back in 2000? Yep, it's possible now. Williams says that he was a huge proponent of the feature, and that the team was most inspired by both the first Money in the Bank match and the Eddie Guerrero/Rey Mysterio match from last year's Summer Slam (half-baked custody storyline aside). Either way, it's one of those great new gameplay elements that we can't help but smile about.